Freedom Writers (2007)
Biography, Crime, Drama |.
Freedom Writers is a American drama film written and directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey and Mario.
It is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell and students who compiled the book out of real diary entries about their lives that they wrote in their English class at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California. The movie is also based on the DC program called City at Peace. The title of the movie and book is a play on the term “Freedom Riders,” referring to the multiracial civil rights activists who tested the U.S. Supreme Court decision ordering the desegregation of interstate buses in 1961.
In 1994 in Long Beach, California, Erin Gruwell has been accepted to teach English for at-risk students at Woodrow Wilson High School—a once highly acclaimed school which has declined since voluntary integration had been enforced and where racial tensions have increased since the Los Angeles riots two years prior. Erin struggles to form a connection with her students and observes numerous fights between some of them, who are in rival gangs.
One night, Latina student Eva Benitez, her boyfriend Paco, and a friend go to a convenience store. Eva’s classmate Sindy Ngor, who is a Cambodian refugee, and her boyfriend also enter the store. African-American student Grant Rice, frustrated at losing an arcade game, demands a refund from the store owner.
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Writers: Richard LaGravenese (screenplay), Freedom Writers (book), Erin Gruwell (book)
Stars: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April Hernandez Castillo, Mario, Kristin Herrera
Cast:
| Hilary Swank | … | Erin Gruwell |
| Patrick Dempsey | … | Scott Casey |
| Scott Glenn | … | Steve Gruwell |
| Imelda Staunton | … | Margaret Campbell |
| April Hernandez Castillo | … | Eva Benitez (as April Lee Hernandez) |
| Mario | … | Andre Bryant |
| Kristin Herrera | … | Gloria Munez |
| Jaclyn Ngan | … | Sindy |
| Sergio Montalvo | … | Alejandro Santiago |
| Jason Finn | … | Marcus |
| Deance Wyatt | … | Jamal Hill |
| Vanetta Smith | … | Brandy Ross |
| Gabriel Chavarria | … | Tito |
| Hunter Parrish | … | Ben Daniels |
| Antonio García | … | Miguel |
| Giovonnie Samuels | … | Victoria |
| John Benjamin Hickey | … | Brian Gelford |
| Robert Wisdom | … | Dr. Carl Cohn |
| Pat Carroll | … | Miep Gies |
| Will Morales | … | Paco |
| Armand Jones | … | Grant Rice |
| Ricardo Molina | … | Eva’s Father |
| Angela Alvarado | … | Eva’s Mother |
| Anh Tuan Nguyen | … | Sindy’s Boyfriend (as Anh Nguyen) |
| Katie Soo | … | Sindy’s Friend |
| Liisa Cohen | … | Brandy’s Mother |
| Brian Bennett | … | Brandy’s Father |
| Horace Hall | … | Self (as Mr. Horace Hall) |
| Tim Halligan | … | Principal Banning |
| Lisa Banes | … | Karin Polachek |
| Giselle Bonilla | … | Young Eva |
| Earl Williams | … | Young Marcus |
| Blake Hightower | … | Clive |
| Angela Sargeant | … | Marcus’ Mother |
| Robin Skye | … | PTA Mom |
| Chil Kong | … | Store Owner |
| Juan Garcia | … | Defense Attorney |
| Larry Cahn | … | Prosecutor |
| Sharaud Moore | … | Hall Monitor |
| Abel Soto | … | Gang Member |
| Dan Warner | … | Cop #1 |
| Randy Hall | … | Cop #2 |
| Carl Paoli | … | Cop #3 |
| Dominic Daniel | … | Drug Dealer |
| Cody Chappel | … | Bookstore Clerk |
| DJ Motiv8 | … | DJ |
| Renee Firestone | … | Self – The Holocaust Survivor |
| Eddie Ilam | … | Self – The Holocaust Survivor |
| Elisabeth Mann | … | Self – The Holocaust Survivor |
| Gloria Ungar | … | Self – The Holocaust Survivor |
| George Alvarezzo | … | Maitre’d (uncredited) |
| Rock Anthony | … | Honors Class Student (uncredited) |
| Sonny Mario Ayon | … | Eva’s Hispanic Gang Member / Student (uncredited) |
| Dre Bowie | … | Black Student (uncredited) |
| Ian Clay | … | Student (uncredited) |
| David Cohen | … | Carnival Attendee (uncredited) |
| Chrissy Crook | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Giovanni Davis | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Jason Ford | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Ashley Glenn | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Robert Gonzalez | … | Roberto / Evas cousin (uncredited) |
| Robert Christopher Henderson | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Audia Holiday | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Annie Hsu | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth Ince | … | Teacher (uncredited) |
| Michael James Lazar | … | Marcus’s Dead Friend (uncredited) |
| Don Le | … | Asian Student (uncredited) |
| Deon Lucas | … | Black Student (uncredited) |
| Angela Nesbitt | … | Student (uncredited) |
| Ian Novotny | … | Man in the Park (uncredited) |
| Ihuoma Ofordire | … | Black Gang Member (uncredited) |
| Jeran Pascascio | … | Marcus’ Dead Friend #2 (uncredited) |
| Bidkar Ramos | … | Prisoner (uncredited) |
| Palma Lawrence Reed | … | Grant’s Mother (uncredited) |
| Landon Reid | … | Kid (uncredited) |
| Matt Riedy | … | Actor (uncredited) |
| Kirsten Roeters | … | White Dinner Companion (uncredited) |
| Joe Seo | … | Sindy’s Asian Gang Member / Student (uncredited) |
| Michael Shiraef | … | Honor Student (uncredited) |
| Joe Towne | … | Obnoxious Waiter (uncredited) |
| Anthony E. Valentin | … | Latin Gangster (uncredited) |
| Adam Vanderwielen | … | White Cop #1 (uncredited) |
| Alfredo Viramontes | … | Student (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia